The 2025/26 GP contract marks one of the most positive shifts for primary care in recent years.
With additional investment, streamlined funding routes, and greater flexibility for practices, the changes are designed to strengthen the workforce, modernise access, and sustain high-quality patient care.
For practices recruiting new staff and for clinicians exploring career opportunities – these updates open the door to better support, improved stability, and more attractive roles across general practice.
A Significant Investment in Primary Care
The total investment in the GP contract for 2025/26 rises by around £969 million, including:
- £889 million into the core GP contract and the Network Contract DES.
- £80 million to fund the new Advice & Guidance service.
This brings the total contract value to approximately £13.2 billion – around 7.2% growth in cash terms and roughly 4.8% in real terms, according to The King’s Fund.
For practices, this means more room to grow teams, invest in digital infrastructure, and offer competitive packages to attract and retain clinicians.
Pay Uplifts and Backdating
NHS England confirmed a 4% uplift for contractor GPs, salaried GPs and practice staff, backdated to 1 April 2025.
Locum reimbursement rates under the Statement of Financial Entitlements have also risen by 4% and are backdated to the same date.
For candidates, this is a timely reminder to ensure any new offer reflects these updated pay scales and includes backdated adjustments where applicable.
3. Streamlined QOF and Incentive Changes
The 2025/26 contract retires 32 QOF indicators (212 points, around £298 million) to reduce administrative pressure.
Here’s how the funding is being redistributed:
- 71 points (~£100 million) are reinvested into the Global Sum, including uplifts to childhood immunisation fees (from £10.06 to £12.06 per item) and enhanced locum reimbursement.
- 141 points (~£198 million) are redirected to support cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention indicators.
This shift means practices can focus on prevention and continuity of care rather than box-ticking – creating more fulfilling roles for clinicians.
ARRS and DES: More Flexibility Than Ever
One of the most transformative updates is to the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) and the Network Contract DES.
From 2025/26:
- ARRS funding is merged into a single, flexible pot with no national role-specific caps.
- GPs and practice nurses are now eligible for reimbursement under ARRS.
- The maximum reimbursable salary for GPs under ARRS rises from £73,113 to £82,418, plus employer on-costs.
- The principle of “additionality” remains – ARRS should fund new capacity, not replace existing roles.
This change gives Primary Care Networks the freedom to shape their workforce around patient needs, not funding restrictions. For candidates, it opens up new pathways – particularly for GPs, nurses and allied professionals seeking structured, well-funded positions within PCNs.
Simplified Capacity & Access Payments
The Capacity and Access Improvement Payment (CAIP) has been simplified from three domains to two:
- Modern General Practice Access – ensuring timely, digitally enabled access.
- Risk Stratification and Continuity – improving proactive care for patients with complex needs.
This streamlining helps practices focus on measurable, patient-centred improvements rather than complex reporting.
Digital Access and New Requirements (from October 2025)
From 1 October 2025, practices must:
- Keep online consultation tools open during core hours (08:00-18:30) for non-urgent appointment, medication, and administrative requests.
- Publish or link to the NHS England Patient Charter (“You and Your General Practice”) on their websites.
- Enable GP Connect functionality so other providers (with patient consent) can view relevant record information, and community pharmacists can send consultation summaries directly to the GP record.
For clinicians, this means working in more digitally integrated teams. For practices, it’s an opportunity to modernise systems and attract candidates comfortable with tech-enabled care.
What This Means for Recruitment and Career Planning
The 2025/26 contract strengthens the case for building sustainable, forward-looking primary care teams.
Key takeaways:
- More flexibility for PCNs to design multidisciplinary teams.
- Improved funding to support competitive offers and better retention.
- Greater focus on prevention, continuity and digital access.
- Clearer pathways for GPs, nurses and allied professionals through expanded ARRS eligibility.
For clinicians, the message is simple: primary care is investing in its people. There’s never been a better time to join, whether you’re looking for stability, variety, or progression.
Conclusion
The 2025/26 GP contract isn’t just a financial uplift – it’s a strategic investment in the future of general practice.
It recognises the vital role of multidisciplinary teams and creates new flexibility for practices to innovate and grow.
At Vela Medical Group, we specialise in helping practices and clinicians make the most of these opportunities. Whether you’re planning your next career move or recruiting under the new contract, our team can help you find the right fit.
Ready to strengthen your team or explore your next role under the new GP contract? Contact Vela Medical Group today.
